Four Field Service Solutions

Medulla Pro software (medullapro.com) optimizes field service management, including dispatching, scheduling, inventory, mobile reporting, work orders, parts, contracts, job checklists, field service tracking, installations, preventative maintenance, and repairs.

Designed to integrate with your CRM, it is scalable, by plan, for businesses ranging in size from Small (up to 20 users), Medium (21-100 uses), and Enterprise (unlimited users).

All plans address scheduling and dispatch, with the option for drag & drop scheduling on a map, Gantt chart, or calendar; management; billing, including automatic billing; accounts payable; and reports. The solution includes a mobile app.

The scheduling and dispatch dashboard provides a mapped real-time view of your workforce. Dispatch can automatically process work orders based on terms of customer contract, warranties, or maintenance agreements while optimizing use of resources (e.g. people, parts, vehicles) including automatically assigning work orders within predefined zones to particular technicians. Dispatch can also text a customer an ETA alert when a technician is on the way.

Interactive mobile applications can connect dispatchers to technicians anywhere any time. The technician can issue parts from the vehicle, report labor, write notes, take pictures showing before and after, get a customer signature, and generate and send an invoice.

Centralized document management, in a secure HIPAA compliant platform, enables accessibility online 24/7, including signatures and orders.

Other management features include the ability to organize and track barcode-enabled tools, manage staff availability and vacation days, and track hours spent per work order with daily, weekly, monthly, or annual views. The software also supports staff check-in/check-out and calculation of hours worked, generating input for payroll.

Using the mobile app, technicians can access blueprints, graphic bills of materials, interactive schematics, installation instructions, product service checklists, and other data that can enhance productivity.

The Medium and Enterprise plans add features for purchase order and request management, inventory management, advanced reporting, data migration, and interface with your existing system if feasible.

Pricing: subscription by plan, including separate costs for training, if appropriate.

FieldBin

FieldBin (www.fieldbin.com) cloud based field service management software (with integrated apps for iOS or Android) addresses estimating, scheduling and dispatch on a color coded calendar, with the ability to drag and drop work orders and set up recurring work orders and maintenance/service contracts, employee time tracking with employees able to clock in/out from their smartphone, invoicing and payment processing through integration with Stripe (a payment processing solution) with the ability to capture a customer’s digital signature, inventory management for multiple locations, and GPS stamping for location and time tracking.

You can create quotes/invoices from a desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone and email or text them to customers.

Push alerts and notifications include notifying customers by email and text that the technician is “on the way” and reminding technicians of appointments. You can set up recurring work orders and maintenance/service contracts. Integrated inventory management sends automatic notification when inventory level reaches a specific threshold.

You can build your own price book of services for use in estimating and invoices. FieldBin integrates with QuickBooks.

Reporting options include inventory levels, crew productivity including metrics for each crew member, job profit reports, time cost reports, and material cost reports.

Pricing: fee monthly: Basic–single user, Synch–integration to QB up to 5 users, Build–for larger companies (6 to 15 users), plan also available for over 15 users.  

MeasureQuick

MeasureQuick (www.measurequick.com) is a productivity app for use on smartphones and tablets. Its primary purpose is to calculate and document HVAC system equipment performance, conduct system diagnostics, and enhance overall efficiency. The software is tailored for technicians who install and service residential and light commercial HVAC systems, simplifying the process of measuring and diagnosing system issues. It is available as a Free version with some premium features for download on Google Play and the App Store.

The software records the characteristics of each system for every installation and adjusts for environmental conditions. The Free version offers more than 100 diagnostic notifications, target zones, and the ability to connect with various brands of Bluetooth tools and apps. The Premium version includes advanced diagnostics, data streaming (Test Tracker), vital score reports, and unlimited project data and photo storage, as well as CRM integrations.

Pricing: BASIC access: Free, including tools connections and unlimited diagnostics; Premium: fee per system per year, encompassing unlimited projects, remote data streaming, and cloud storage.

Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch Employee Time Clock software with mobile app (www.buddypunch.com) allows employees to clock in/out from different locations using mobile devices.

Using GPS tracking, it offers the option of several different punch methods: username and password; pin/kiosk; facial recognition; and QR code scanning.

The solution is available in three plans, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise, all including job and location tracking, automatic overtime calculations, alerts and reminders, on-demand reporting, webcam photos on punches, and manager permissions.

The Pro plan adds employee scheduling with use of a drag-and-drop schedule builder with available and preferred times, shift trades and covers, schedule templates, schedule notifications, availability management, and early/late/absent reporting. The Enterprise plan adds single sign on and API access. 

Buddy Punch allows seamless syncing with QuickBooks and other payroll software. 

Pricing: fee per user/per month; Free trial available.

Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at [email protected].